"Tatterdemalion"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

02.14.09

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“Tatterdemalion”

 

Commander Kansas JoNs was currently neck deep in update reports from the various ground teams that had been deployed to the colony world surface to assess any damage and assist the local repair crews. She had been determined to try and get as many of the field reports cleared out of her InBox or from her desktop surface - in the case of hard copy data Padds - prior to heading up to the bridge for her secondary shift of bridge duty, and had been moderately successful with her plan

 

The ‘Courts damage control teams deployed to the planetary surface had consisted primarily of the ships enlisted officers, and as the chief non commissioned officer on board, Master Chief Petty Officer Keltex had been the shift lead responsible for coordinating the mobilization of the teams with the command team, the chief engineer, and the local planetary civvy authorities.

 

The Master Chief was more than capable of handling such an assignment, and his mission reports on such matters were precise and to the point with no unnecessary rambling, which was good because she was in no mood to read a report from one of the shipboard windbags.

 

The golden furred Caitian tapped at the inset keyboard on the desktop, instructing her personal computer to access and display the update message from Keltex and then settled back and took sips of her tea as she read the report.

 

= = = = Internal Communication Wireless = = = =

= = = = Agincourt NCC-81762 Security 7 = = = =

= = = = Keltex Red Qi-Jhintok General Encryption = = = =

 

To: JoNs, Commander Kansas

Re: Damage Control Deploy Teams, Enlisted

 

The damage control response teams under my supervision were deployed to the second largest city on the colony world.

 

The various offices and businesses within the professional sector of the secondary city escaped damage from the incoming fire. There were a total count of three buildings that were tatterdemalion as a result of the strafing fire, but most of the damaged structures were stabilized and can be repaired.

 

After aiding with the initial mobilization and repairs, my teams and I withdrew, leaving the repairs to the competent local response units.

 

Keltex, Master Chief Petty Officer

 

= = = = End Report = = = =

= = = = Encryption Qi-Jhintok = = = =

 

Kansas had choked on a sip of the tea when she had gotten to the tatter-say woot whatsit word. She finished reading the report, dropped down the original document with a flick of a claw to the keyboard controls, and then brought up another application window containing the highly important yet most often overlooked tool of the Starfleet officer – the spellchecker and dictionary program.

 

The leonine feline typed in this unknown word and then read the explanation that popped up on the office computers view screen for Tatterdemalion, which was defined as something or someone that was ragged, unkempt or dilapidated.

 

She had figured that the word meant something along those lines considering that the Agincourt teams had been deployed to a planet that had just gotten the proverbial stuffing kicked out of it by orbital raider ships, which usually resulted in damaged buildings and structures.

 

Why hadn’t the big Klingon enlisted officer just said dilapidated? Why get all fancy?

 

Then again, why didn’t she just call and ask him herself?

 

A big wide paw tapped at the communications badge affixed to her uniform tunic top. “Commander JoNs to the Master Chief.”

 

His response was prompt to the summons. “Keltex here. What can I do for you Commander Kitten?”

 

“Well … I’m finishing up with your report here. And was wondering about the tatterdemalion?”

 

The Klingons patented deep chest belly laugh could be heard over the open communications channel. When he could finally speak again, the humor was still in his voice. “Ah yes! You like my new word?”

 

“It is interesting, I’ll give it that.”

 

“I am merely attempting to expand my mind, and really you should expand yours as well Kitten.”

 

“Master Chief, I do not need to expand my mind. Wait … that came out wrong … “

 

Another bout of laughter erupted over the communications feed, and even though he couldn’t see her over the two way audio only transmission, JoNs was smiling.

 

Keltex was a jolly and boisterous soul; he always had been, and he always would be. The universe would indeed be a much darker place when his soul spark was finally extinguished and he passed onto the Hunting Realm.

 

She let loose with a genuine purred chuckle that expressed her own humor. “Well, I won’t keep you Mister Keltex. I just wanted to touch base with you about your rather interesting choice for the word of the week. Just keep in mind that I’m the XO, not the Language teacher.”

 

“Of course. Have a good duty shift Commander.”

 

With a wry thought of ‘you mean my second duty shift’ dancing at the back of her mind, Kansas instead responded with, “You as well Master Chief, JoNs out.”

 

When the audio connection had terminated with the enlisted officer, she knocked back the rest of the rapidly cooling tea and then locked down her computer terminal. Satisfied that all was in order within the office that the XO Cait usually called home these days what with the sheer volume and such of the secondary command position, JoNs exited and started to head down the outside corridor to grab the nearest turbo lift conveyance to the bridge.

 

She passed a repair team in the adjacent corridor, and it was obvious that they were replacing a console grid that had burnt out. The feline stopped and a little smile pricked at her muzzle as she regarded the two enlisted officers, and her inquisitive green eyes took on a mischievous cast.

 

The two enlisted men weren’t uncomfortable in the Caitian Execs presence, but it was also obvious that they were curious as to why she was suddenly so intent on what they both were doing.

 

“Uh, ma’am – can we help you? Is everything all right?”

 

Kansas cocked her head to one side and flipped one ear back in amusement. “Everything is fine Petty Officer. I just wanted to comment that it’s probably a good thing that you’re replacing that component; it’s looking downright tatterdemalion. Carry on.”

 

Leaving two slightly befuddled officers in her wake, JoNs continued on her way to the main control bridge with a contented swish in her tail.